Baseball Light-Cube

myminifactory

I crafted this illuminated cube for a St. Louis Cardinals enthusiast, incorporating interchangeable panels that can be swapped out for different themes or even multiple copies of generic baseball designs. The basic build offers endless possibilities with a little imagination. All pieces should be glued together from the inside, except for the bottom panel, which has a slot for a battery switch to control an optional LED light. 3D Printing Settings: Printer: FlashForge Creator X Rafts: No Supports: No Resolution: 0.2mm Infill: 30% Notes: 1. Simplify3D was used for slicing with specific settings, available below for the full three-color effect. 2. The design requires a 0.2mm layer height. 3. A single extruder is used, pausing for color changes. Design: To create this unique gift, I searched Google for Cardinals logos and stylized team names, which led to interesting but simple line drawings. In Blender, I used Bezier curves to trace the line art, converting them into meshes. I created a template for the panels and then subtracted the designs using boolean modifiers. Parts: Print one copy of print plate_bottom in one color. Print one copy of each of the other five plates, following the special instructions below. Print two copies of lamp_base in black. Print four copies of lamp_strut in black. Special Slicing Instructions for Panels: In Blender, I encountered difficulty achieving the desired raised edge effect for the black outlines. To solve this issue, I used a trick available in Simplify3D slicing software (though I'm unsure if other slicers offer this capability). For the panels, I created two processes: one for all layers except the top two and another for just those top two layers. The first process is set for two base layers and three top layers with 30% infill and two shells. The second process is set for no bottom or top layers and no infill, continuing with two shells. This resulted in only outlines being printed in a contrasting color. Pauses were added to the slicer at 0.6mm and 3.0mm for color changes. I started with red filament, changing to white at the first pause and black at the second. Assembly: Other than the bottom panel, all panels are interchangeable. -The box is assembled upside down. -Note that the bottom panel is attached last. -Place the top panel face down onto a base piece. -Slot the four side panels into the base around the top panel, ensuring the designs point outward and all panels are upside down. -Place the copy of the base on top, fitting it in all the way. -Center the panels and square off the box before gluing the pieces to the top and bottom base pieces. -Wait for the glue to set before attaching the four struts. The struts are simply glued to each corner. -Apply glue from the inside if needed. -Once the glue has dried, attach the bottom panel by tilting it and inserting it into the box. Tilt it back to lay flat. -If you're handy with simple electronics, add an LED and battery to the inside. I glued my battery case to the bottom panel's interior, providing access to the on/off switch through the hole provided.